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Health & Medicine

The Museum's collections of medical science artifacts represent nearly all aspects of health and medical practice. Highlights include early X-ray apparatuses, such as one of Wilhelm Roentgen's tubes, penicillin mold from Alexander Fleming’s experiments, and Jonas Salk's original polio vaccine. More recent acquisitions include the first artificial heart implanted in a human, the earliest genetically engineered drugs, and materials related to David, the "Bubble Boy." Other artifacts range from artificial limbs and implant devices to bloodletting and dental instruments, beauty products, and veterinary equipment. The contents of a medieval apothecary shop and an 1890s drugstore form part of the collections, along with patent and alternative medicines. The collections also document the many differing perspectives on health and medical issues, from patients, family members, doctors, nurses, medical students, and out-of-the-mainstream health practitioners.

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

The Lederle Laboratories Division of the American Cyanimid Company produced this Zorane 1.5/30 brand oral contraceptive in 1974. The blue and white packaging has a cover with a floral print and an image of a butterfly. There are no pills included in this packet, but it contains a booklet entitled “What you should know about ‘the pill.’” An image of a man and a woman appears on the cover.

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Manati, Puerto Rico, produced this Ortho-Novum 10/11 brand oral contraceptive around 1981. The monthly dosage is in a 28-pill DialPak dispenser and consists of 10 white tablets of estrogen, 11 peach tablets of combination estrogen and progesterone pills, and 7 green inert pills. The contraceptives are packaged in a blue foil wrapper as a physician’s sample that was not for sale.

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

Lexis Pharmaceuticals of Austin, Texas, produced this N.E.E. 1/35 brand oral contraceptive around 1988. The 21-pill monthly dosage is in a blister pack arranged in three weekly rows of seven pills. The columns are labeled with the days of the week. The blister pack slips into a grey plastic sleeve. N.E.E. was a generic prescription. This object is a promotional pack that was mailed to doctors. It includes a booklet that introduces the new pill with “added physician and patient value” and calls itself “The OC brand for today’s generation.”

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

The Wyeth Pharmaceutical Company of Münster, Germany, manufactured this Ovral brand oral contraceptive between 1993 and 1995. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) distributed these contraceptives worldwide to family planning programs. The distinctive logo of the “blue lady” taking her pill adorned all USAID oral contraceptive packages no matter which brand of contraceptive the package contained. Compared to other oral contraceptives of the time, these USAID pills are packaged very simply, lacking any kind of reusable container or memory aid. The package contains three silver blister packs of 28 pills, 21 hormonal white pills and 7 brown iron supplement pills. A white paper insert in four languages is also included.

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

Gedeon Richter Ltd. of Budapest, Hungary, produced this Postinor brand oral contraceptive beginning in 1979. Most oral contraceptives come in 21 or 28 pill varieties that are made to be taken once a day for a month. Postinor was a 10-pill regimen containing .75mg of levonorgestrel intended to be used as post-coital contraception, to be taken only after intercourse instead of daily. It appealed to many women because it is meant to be taken only as needed. The Postinor is in a silver blister pack containing 10 pills in two rows of five. Presently, Postinor is marketed as an emergency contraceptive pill (Plan B), containing two pills of .75 mg of levonorgestrel meant to be taken 12 hours apart.

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. of Dundahera, Gurgaon, India, produced this Mala-N oral contraceptive in 1989. Mala-N came in a 28 pill blister pack (missing from the object) that was contained in a yellow paper envelope with pouch. The inside of the envelope contains instructions for use, and an instruction leaflet is inside the pouch.

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

Gynétics Medical Products of Somerville, New Jersey, produced this Preven emergency contraceptive kit around 1999. The kit contains a patient information book, a pregnancy test, and four pills in two pairs inside a silver blister pack. The kit opens into three panels bearing step-by-step instructions on how to use the emergency contraceptive kit.

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

Gynétics Medical Products of Somerville, New Jersey, produced this Preven demonstration emergency contraceptive kit around 1999. The kit contains a patient information book, a pregnancy test, and four pills in two pairs inside a silver blister pack. The kit opens into three panels bearing step-by-step instructions on how to use the emergency contraceptive kit. Unlike the version of Preven seen in object 1999.0226.1, this kit was for demonstration purposes only.

Gedeon Richter, Ltd. of Budapest, Hungary, produced this Plan B emergency contraceptive in 2001. The Women’s Capital Corporation of Kirkland, Washington, distributed these Plan B pills. Two tablets of levonorgestrel are packaged in a blue cardboard folder that is sealed in plastic. An additional Demo pill pack is included and contains no pills. The interior of the folder contains directions for use, and a small paper of patient information tucked into a slot in the cardboard. The reverse side of the folder contains more detailed information about what Plan B is and how it is used. Included in the packaging is a tri-fold cardboard informational pamphlet that uses a rendition of Rosie the Riveter with the slogan “Back up your Birth Control with EC.”

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

Eli Lilly and Company of Indianapolis, Indiana produced this C-Quens brand oral contraceptive around 1965. The paper package is folded matchbook-style with directions and blister pack inside. The pills are laid out to represent a calendar, with 15 white 80 mcg Mestranol tablets, and 5 peach colored tablets that are 80 mcg Mestranol with 2 mg of chlormadinone acetate.

The FDA approved C-Quens for marketing in May,1965. The pills were withdrawn from the market in October, 1970 after tests on dogs suggested that the synthetic progesterone used in the pills, chlormadinone acetate, may increase the risk of breast cancer.